Universal ironing machine



1623,18? Aprll 5 1927. J. HUEBSCH UNIVERSAL IRON'ING MACHINE Filed Feb. 91192-4. 83 Sheets-Sheet 1 m J05 6 2/7 Hucbsc/z i 1927. 1,623,187 Apr 1 5 J. HUEBSCH UNIVERSAL IRONING MACHINE Filed Feb. 9, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig 5 Joseph Huebsc/7.

April 5 1927. 1,623,187

J. HUEBSCH UNIVERSAL IRONING MACHINE Filed Feb. 9, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1,623187 Aprll 5 1927. J HUEBSCH UNI VERSAL IRONING MACHINE Filed Feb. 9, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J 05 6,0/1 Huebsc/Z Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH HUEBSCH, OF MILWAUKEE, WI ESCONSIN.

unrvaasar. iaonme macnma.

' Applicatioii filed February a, 1924. Serial No. 691,563.

This invention'relates to a universal iron ing machine.

It has become desirable in laundries to have universal ironingmachines in which all kinds of garmentsor pieces can be ironed or pressed, so that one operative may finish a family washing; This not only tends to pre-- may be advanced a predetermined distance during the pressing operation for advancing an unpressed sectionto be pressed.

The invention comprises the novel mechanism and combinations hereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational of the ironin machine.

igure 2 is an end elevational view of the machine.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View through the machine."

' Figure 4: is an enlarged sectional view upon the line ;4.4 of Figure 3. V

Figure'5 is an enlarged sectional view upon the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view upon the line 6-6 of Figure 5. v

Figure 7 is an enlarged part sectional and part elevational view, of the presser member operatin mechanism.

In re errin to the drawings, there is shown an enc osed casing 1 in which a shaft 2 is suitably -journalled that extends beyond the casing for suporting a roller 3 which maybe integral with the shaft or secured thereto. The casing 1 is provided with a pair of spaced outwardly directed bearing arms 4 (Figures 2 and 3) in which a shaft 5 is journalled. A pressing member 6 having a lower arcuate surface 7 has a pair of supporting arms 8 secured upon the shaft 5. The arcuate surface 7 of the pressing member corresponds to the curvature of the roller 3 as can r adily be seen in Figure 2.

he arms'S of the pressing member are rovlded' with downwardly inclined weig ted arms 9 that normally tend to elevate the pressing member so that a garment or article may be inserted between it and the roller 3.

Mechanism has been provided for yieldingly lowering the pressing member 6, so that no'injury will result to an operative if his fingers get caught between the pressing member 6 and roller 3. To this end, a friction clutch member 10 is keyed upon the shaft 5, and is provided with a laterally extending hub upon which a sprocket gear 11 1s freely mounted. A hood or housing 12 surrounds the sprocket gear and is attached to the main casing 1, and a coil spring 13 confined upon the shaft 5 between the wall of said hood and the sprocket gear urges the latter into frictional engagement with the friction clutch member 10. A sprocket chain 14 is trained over the sprocket gear 11 and also over a small sprocket gear 15 secured upon an intermediate shaft 16 journalled in suitable hearings in the casing 12. A spur gear 17 is secured upon the shaft 16 and meshes with a spur gear 18 secured upon a shaft 19 journalled in a suitable bearing on the casing 1 and in a bracket 20 extendin from the casing. The gear 18 meshes wit a gear 21 loosely mounted upon a driven shaft 22 which is journalled in the casing 1. The gear 21 is provided with a jaw clutch adapted to be engaged by a cooperating shiftable jaw clutch member 23. This shiftable jaw clutch member 23 is operatively connected with a lever 24 secured u on a rod 25 which extends through the'oasmg and is provided with an operating handle 25. 'A lever 26 is also secured upon the rod 25 and provided atits upper end with a plunger 26 aving a pointed end 27. This plun er 26 slidably extends through a slot in t e casing 1 for projection in the th of a valve rod 28 having a valve 29 w ich is adapted for controlling a steam passage in a valve housing 6 carried by the ressing'member 6. A pipe or hose 30 exteh s from the housing 6 into the bottom of a diaphra chamber 31. This rod 28 is also provided with a valve 29 which controls the exhaust from the pipe 30. A spring 28" normally closes the valve 29. The diaphragm chamber 31 consists of a lower concave member 31 pivoted upon a lug 32 on the side of the casing and an upper concave member 31" which is 5. thrown into engagement-with thepinion 41 phragm chamber 31.

secured in sealed relation with the concave section 31 The usual diaphragm 32 is supported between the twosections. The concave section 31 terminates in a hollow bearing tube 33' to which one end of alink 34 is pivoted, the other end of the link being pivotally connected to the counterweight 9. A plunger rod 35 having a disk 36 at its lower end extends from within the concave section 31 through the tube 33 for actuating the counterweight 9- as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The aforementioned shaft 22 is provided with a worm wheel 37 which isdriven by a.

worm 38 connected with a suitable source of power. It will'therefore be evident that rotation of the'worm gear 37 will impart rotation to the; shaft 22 and ifthe clutch 23 is in operative relation'with. the gear 21,

and exerts enough pressure against the rod 35 for acting upon the weight 9- and forcing the pressing member 6 against the roller 3,

the sprocket gearing being effective for r0- tating the shaft 5 and lowering the pressing member 6 until the friction between the gear 11 and friction clutch 10 is overcome, the fluid pressure applying the final pressure to the pressing member 6.

The ironing roller 3 may be continuously rotated or may be intermittently or frac-' tionally rotated a predetermined ,ext'ent de-' termined by the arc defined by the pressing member 6. For this purpose a pair of gears 39 and 40 are mounted upon the roller shaft 2-, the gear 39 being rigidly secured upon the shaft, while. the 'gear 40 is loose thereon. These gears mesh with pinions 41 and 42 which are loosely mounted upon the driving shaft 22 and are provided with jaw clutches upon their adjacent faces. A clutch member 43 is slidably splined upon the shaft 22 between the pinions 41- and 42. This-clutch is adapted to be actuated by. a yoke lever 44 secured upon a rod 45. This clutch may be for effecting a continuous drive. of the roller shaft 2 or it may be thrown into engagement with the pinion 42 for rotating the roller shaft 2 a predetermined extent as will now be explained. Y

- In referring to Figure 5, it will be observed that a driving pawl 46 is pivotedupon the gear '40. This pawl is adapted for engaging a ratchet wheel 46 secured upon the shaft 2. A spring 47 connected with the free end of the pawl 46 and the gear 40 normally tends to withdraw the pawl from engagement with the ratchet wheel. A compress'ion spring 48 extends from the pawl 46 for engaging under an arcuate guard 49 which is slidably mounted upon the rods 50 and "51 for pressing the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel.-,

It will be evident that as long as the end of the spring 48 which-is shown asprovided with a bevelled head engages under the arouate guard 49, the pawl-will be held in engagement with the "ratchet wheel 46 for r0- tating the rollershaft 2.; However, when the pawl rides out from under the arc'uate guard 49, the spring 47 will withdraw the pawl from the ratchet wheel 46' thereby pre' 1 venting further rotation of the shaft 2. The guard 49 isjconnected' with the shaft 45 by a link '53. The gear 40 is also provided with a cam 52 extending laterally from one of the spokes thereof. 'This cam is adapted for engaging against the side -of the arcuate guard 49 and shifting itlaterally' upon the rods 50 and 51 for moving the same out of the path of the pawl' 46 and simultaneously rotating theshaft 45 through link 53 -for shifting clutch 43 to neutral position for stopping the rotation-of gear 40.- The design of the arcuate guard 49 should be such as to correspond to the arcuate surface of the pressing member 6 so that the circumferential movement of the ironing roller will equal the arcuate extent of the pressing member 6. The arcuate guard 49 is adapted to be manually shifted by thevcrank 53 upon the aforementioned shaft 45 which is adapted to be actuated by a'handle -"54 secured upon'the end of the shaft-45jwhich extends beyond the casing for this purpose. A"

counterweight 55 secured .upon' the lower 7 end of a cable 56 is attached thereby to a peg 57 on the'ge-ar 40. This"cable' is suitably guided by a guide 58 attached to the i is to return the gear-40. after each actuation to its initial starting position with thepawl 46 confined under. the lower end of the.

arcuate guard 49' as shown in Figure'5. ,jA

bracket 58 extends from the casing 1 for supportingan ironing board 59 bel ow the roller 3 upon which a certain amount of hand ironing may be done. A brake band 60 is adjustably secured upon'a drum 61 a (Figure 6-) on the shaft 2. The -band may be suitably anchored to the fraine. The

purpose of this brake-istoretard or stop overrunning of-the shaftf J The operation of the machine ill now be described; 'Let'i't be essumeach'a a in desired to iron articles whiclf requiremerely a' rolling action. The cl-utch'43will be con nected with the-"pinion 41 and the handle 25 will. be'operated for simultaneously throwing'the clutch 23 into engagement with the casing. The. function of this counterweight gear 21 and swinging the lever 26 for proecting the plunger 26" into the path of-the valve stem 28. If the driving shaft 22 is now rotated from a suitable source of power applied to the worm 38, the shaft 5 will be rotated for lowering the presser member 6,

and when the presser member 6 has been sufficiently lowered, the valve stem 28 will engage the plunger or abutment 26 for opening-the valve 29 and admitting steam to the diaphragm for causing the plunger rod 35 to actuate the weight) for pressing the member 6 against .the roller. The roller shaft will be rotated through the pinion 41 and gear 39, and as the roller rotates it will iron the article in conjunction with the pressing member- 6, which will be forced downwardly against the roller by the fluid pressure actingagainst the plunger rod 35 which engages the counterweight 9 and elevates the same as above explained. When an article has beenpassed between the roller 3 and the presser member 6, another-may be inserted withoutstopping the machine so that a continuous rolling or ironing action results. Where it is desired to stop the machine, the lever 25 may be actuated for withdrawing the clutch 23 and the plunger 26 allowing the spring 28 to close the steam valve 29 and open valve 29" for the escape of steam from the diaphragm chamber, the counterweights 9 will then descend for raising the presser member 6 and forcing the plunger rod 35 inwardly and at the same time the link 34 in connectionwith'the diaphragm extension 33 will act as a toggle for swinging the diaphragm chamber outward- 1y. tin why shifting the plunger rod 35 from engagement with .its counterweight 9. Thus, it will be seen that the presser member 6 is automatically raised as soon as the valve 29 is closed against the admission of the steam.

Now, assume it is desired to iron certain classes of garments or articles such as are quite heay'y for example, which cannot be readily ironed by a rolling action as just explained. Such articles may be pressed by the before-described machine in the following manner:

Assume that the. resser member 6 is in elevated position an the clutch 43 is in inoperative position as shown in Figure 6. The garment or article to be pressed may then be inserted between the roller 3 and the ressing member 6. When the garment has een properly positioned, lever 25 may be actuated for throwing-in the clutch 23 and shifting the lever 26 for projecting the abutment 26" in the path of the valve stem 28. or the article may be inserted by rotating the roller. If the shaft 22 is now rotated, the presser member 6 will be lowered by the yielding friction drive; the valve 29 will be opened for admitting steam to tame.

the diaphragm for pressing the member- 6 against the article, the roller '3 remaining stationary during such operation. When the portion of the garment between the pressing member .6 and the roller has been pressed the pressing shoemaybe elevated as before explained. The clutch 43 may then be thrown into engagement with the pinion 42 whereb the gear 40 will be rotated and through 't 1e ratchet and pawl connection with the roller shaft 2 the latter will he r0- tated a-distance corresponding to the arcuate surface of the pressing member 6, the pressin member 6 remaining stationary during this operation. When the roller has travelled such an extent, the spring 48 will ride out from under the arc'ua-te guard 49 and permit the spring 47 to release the pawl 46 from engagement with the ratchet wheel. As soon as the pawl 46 is thuswise released, the cam 52 on gear 40 will shift the guard 49 and rotate shaft 45 for automatically throwing out the clutch 43 for disconnecting the pinion 42. The frictional retarderacting upon the roller shaft will immediately. stop the same from overrunning. The counterweight 55 will then return the gear wheel 40v to initial starting position. During this predetermined extent of rotation of the roller 3 the garment will have been rotated so as to remove the presced portion beyond the confines of the presser member 6 and to bring an adjoining unpressed portion into juxtaposition with respect to thepresser member 6. The pressing shoe may then be lowered for a second pressing operation. When the second portion has been ressed, the clutch 48 may again be thrown mto engagement with pinion 42 for rotating the roller another predetermined distance, as previously explained, for bringing a third portion .into position to be presied as is obvious. The roller, however, may be stopped at any time when pleats or rufiies' are encountered by simply throwing the "clutch 43 into neutral.

From the foregoing it will be evident thatthisironing machine may iron garments by a rolling action, or simply by a pressing action, in which the pressed article may be advanced a predetermined dis- Accordingly any kind of garment or piece of fabric may be ironed in the machine.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide llU range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hjcrcon otherwise thari necessitated by'the prior art.

I claim: e

1. In an ironing machine, the combination with a pressing member. of a roller co operating therewith, a shaft for supporting said roller, a gear rigidly secured to said 'loose gear for-coaction with said guard, mechanism including a slnftable clutch for driving either of saidgears, and a connecshaft, a gear" looselymounted upon said the plane of said ratchet wheel, a yielding abutment between said pawl and, guard member, yielding means for retracting the pawl from said ratchet wheel, a cam on said tion between said guard and clutch.

' 2. In an ironing machine, the combination with 'apressin'g shoe having an arcuate surface, a roll for coaction with said arcuate surface, a shaft for supporting said roll, a

gear fixedly secured upon said shaft, a gear loosely mounted upon said shaft, mechanism for selectively driving one of said gears,and means-associated with said loose gear and shaft for rota-tingsaid shaft an extent corresponding to the arcuate surface of said pressing shoe.

3. In an ironing machine, a pressing shoe having an arcuate surface, a roll for en gagement with said surface, mechanism for continuously rotating saidroll, and mechanism for optionally rotating said roll a distance substantially equal to the arcuate surface of said shoe. .1

-4. In an ironing machine, a pressing shoe having an arcuate surface, a roll for engagement with said surface, a shaft for supporting said roll, a gear fixedly secured upon said shaft, means for continuously driving said gear, a gear loosely mounted upon said shaft, .and means for establishing a driving connection between said loose gear and shaft adapted for efi'ectin a driving relation for a distance correspon ing substantially to the" arc defined by said arcuate surface.

5. In an ironing machine, a pressing shoe having an arcuate surface, a roll coacting' with said surface, a shaft for supporting said roll, a gear fixedly secured to said shaft, disconnectable means for driving said gear continuously, another driving mechanism for said shaft, and means for rendering said driving mechanism inoperative after 'said 1011' has 4' travelled an extent substantially equal to said arcuate surface.

6. In an ironing machine, a'p'ressing shoe having an arcuate surface, a roll coacting with said surface, mechanism for selectively driving said roll continuously, other mechanism for driving saidroll and means con-- trolled by said last -tnentioned mechanism for disconnectingthe driving relation ,between said last mentioned mechanism' and roll after partial revolution of said roll.

7. In an ironing machine, the combination with a pressing member, a'roll for engaging said member,- mechanism: for selectively rotating said roll continuously or intermittent-1y, and means operated by a portionof 1 mined position.

said mechanism for limiting the intermittent rotation to a partial revolution. v

8. In an ironing machine, a pressing shoe, a roll for cooperating with said shoe, a disconnectable driving mechanism for cont-inuouslyrotating said roll, and an automatically disconnectable driving mechanism for rotating said roll a partial revolution, said latter mechanism comprising a pair of relatively movable members having a driving relation and means for severing said driving relation after such partial revolution.

- 9; In an ironing machine, a pressing slioc, a roll for cooperating with said shoe, mecha-' nism for rotating said roll a partial r-evolu tion comprising a clutch and air of relatively rotatable members havi 1g a limited driving relation, and means controlled by the rotation of one of said members for operating said clutch for stopping said roll.

10. In anironing machine, a. pressing shoe, a roll in cooperative relation therewith, a shaft for supporting said roll, a gear fixed on said shaft, a second gear loose on said shaft, -a counter shaft, a pair of pinions shaft for 'driving said roll a partial revolution, means operated by said loose gear after. such partial revolution for shifting said clutch to inoperative position, and means for -returning said loose gear to a predeter- 11. In an ironing machine, a pressing shoe having an arcuate surface, a roll coactingwith said surface, a shaft for supporting said: roll,-dr1v1ng mechanism for the shaft comprising a clutch and a pair of members m5 having a driving relation for a partial revolution and means operated by one of said members after such partial revolution for shifting said clutch, and means for. returning said last mentioned member to determined position.

12. In an ironing machine, a pressing shoe 1 having an arcuate surface, a roll coacting with said arcuate surface, a shaft for supa Dre 11" porting said roll, driving mechanism for rotating said shaft through an are substantially equal to the arc defined by said arouate surface, and a means for automatically disconnecting said mechanism from said shaft at the end ofsaid arc ofrotation.

1 3. In an ironing machine, a pressing shoe havingan arcuate surface, a roll coacting with said surface, a shaft for supporting said roll, mechanism for continuously rotatshaft through an are substantially equal to the arc defined by said arcuate surface, said ing said shaft and means for rotat ng. said members, 1130 and means for disconnecting said driving connection automatically at the end of said are of rotation.

14. In an ironing, machine, a pressingof said'members to a predetermined position.

15. In an ironing machine, a pressing member having an arcuate surface, a roll for cooperating with said surface, mechanism' for controlling the rotation of said roll comprising a pair of relatively movable members, and means for automatically severing said movable members after a partial revolution of said roll.

16. In an ironing machine, a pressing member having an arcuate surface, a roll for coaction with said surface, continuous drivin mechanism for the roll and intermittent driving mechanism for the roll,*means for selectively operating either of said driving mechanisms, said intermittent driving mechanism comprising a pair of members having a drivin connection automaticallydiscona nected a ter a partial revolution and means operated b one'of said members for rendering' said intermittent driving mechanism inoperative at the end of such partial revolution.

17.. In an ironing machine, a pressing member having an arcuate surface, a roll for coacting with said surface, intermittent driving mechanism for said roll for imparting a partial revolution thereto, said driving mechanism comprising a clutch and a pairof members having a limited driving rela tion automatically disconnectable after a partial revolution, and means operated by one of said members for shifting said clutch to. inoperative position.

18. In an ironing machine, a shoe having a pressing surface, a roll coacting with said surface, selectable continuous or intermittent driving mechanism for said roll, and a pair of members associatedwith said driving mechanism for automatically disconnecting said driving mechanism after a partial revolution of said roll.

19. In a machine of the class described, a roll, a shoe cooperating withsaid roll, a yieldable friction drive for initially operating said shoe in one direction, fluidv pressure means for applying the -final pressure to said shoe, and mechanism for simultaneously disconnecting said frictiondrive and relieving the fiuid pressure.

20. In an ironing machine, a roll, a shoe cooperating with said roll, a yieldable drive for operating said shoe, a fluid pressure system for applying the fin'al pressure to the shoe, driving mechanism having a clutch connection with said yieldable drive, and mechanism for, simultaneously operating said clutch connection and controlling said fluid pressure system.

21. In an ironing machine for pressing or rolling action, a pressing member having an arcuate surface, a roll adapted for coaction with said surface, mechanism for selectively continuously or intermittentlyrotating said roll, said mechanism including a pair of members having meansas sociated therewith to effect an automatic disconnection after said roll has rotated an extent substantially equal to said arcuate surface. I

22. In an ironing machine for pressing or rolling action, a pressing member having an arcuate surface, a roll for coaction with said surface, driving mechanism for selectively continuously or intermittently rotating said roll, said mechanism including a pair of members having a limited drivin rotation, and means actuated by one of sai members for disconnecting said driving mechanism.

In testimony .whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

Josnrn'lntonnson. 

